Building Passion and Working from the Heart

Being entrepreneurial is an exciting way to live .. Many of you know that already, especially if you have owned or ran a business in your past. The quality of life a profitable business can bring which is focused on a passion .. such as customizing cars or motorcycles, or starting a niche chocolate business, a farmers market or even a consignment store in your town or city can bring happiness many never dream of.

My first business, a 7,000 SF grocery/convenience store – the purchase of this business made so much sense and I was financially savvy and stable. It seemed no matter how hard I fought, nothing would make this business stable. I was too green – I see that now, and it was a lot to juggle and manage. Theft was an issue among employees but also we dealt with the State of Indiana closing our road into our town, the main vein for 5 months of our best business in the fall of 2004.
Closing the doors to my business in March of 2006, I fought it so hard .. It was my dream to have the business I had had for 6 years. I found myself losing faith in God and HIS plan for my life. I knew he was speaking to me but I was so set on turning this business around. I studied turn around marketing through Harvard at Brescia College, I couldn’t understand why I tried so hard and nothing worked.

One week later, I closed the store and took hold of my future. When God closed this door – he opened many beautiful windows for me.

I became passionate about working with people who wanted a ‘hand up’ and coaching them into small business. 6 months prior to closing my retail business I devised a business plan for advertising for sale on the ebay forum. Within a few short weeks, I was making on average $500 per week on 8 hours of work. All while I was teaching at the local university courses in business law, economics and small business creation. AND I found myself coaching students about personal finance, time management and goal setting too.

I needed this new path for income. I knew I couldn’t afford a costly start-up. I was cash poor, financially embarrassed, really. I could not afford any more mistakes. EBay was a great way to generate income, on a low budget with very little risk.

I wish I could say I had a great epiphany and the next 6 months made sense and God spoke but actually the truth is .. Nothing made sense for some period of time. WELL almost nothing .. I knew I had to provide for my children a stable income. My two children and my faith in God kept me motivated, and on the path looking straight ahead.

I knew I had a passion for helping students find their path and then I began writing my first book, began working to spread the mission to young people about being financially savvy and being entrepreneurial .. And teaching them about income options, wants vs. needs and also about selling on eBay.

The path that God had in mind for me was far more amazing, impactful and exciting than the life I fought so hard to keep. He wanted me to share my talents and be a positive influence in this world. He wanted me to be here today to tell you that you have the chance NOW to impact people .. Whether impacting one person or many and make a difference in other people’s lives. It’s a time to take out the greed of living for yourself and live a life of giving.

I am pleased to be here to share the knowledge I have. To inspire you to take hold of the quality of life you were meant to have and to tell you that entrepreneurship allows all of you the chance to reach out and touch people’s lives, it gives the chance to leave a legacy behind your neighbors, family and community will be proud of you for. It can give you the freedom to express yourself and find yourself in a world where so many people are lost in the day to day grind.